Paddlers pulled into
poutflow area of Red Rock Dam. Very turbulent!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOIsmITvJzM
Both kayakers were
experienced river and lake kayakers.
Both were in their sea kayaks.
Kayaker who survived:
Kevin Beatty
experienced sea kayaker
(Red Rock Iowa, North Shore and Apostle Islands Lake Superior, Tybee Island
Georgia, Mississippi River, Voyaguers National Park)
American Canoe
Association Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Coastal Kayak Instructor
paddling a sea kayak -
probably a Current Designs Gulfstream
regular paddler on Lake
Red Rock and the Des Moines River
wearing his dry suit and
pfd (visible in incident photo)
Kayaker who died: Tim
Chicoine
expereinced sea kayaker
(Red Rock Iowa, Lake Yellowstone, Lake Superior, Glacier Bay, Mississippi
River, Missouri River)
American Canoe
Association Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Coastal Kayak Instructor
regular paddler on Lake
Red Rock and the Des Moines River
Phil Coleman: Many people
have drowned in recirculating eddies. This was the case here. The victim was
hemmed in by a high concrete wall, the base of the spillway, the recycle of the
water coming over the spillway, and a huge boil that would send him back
against the wall to repeat the cycle.
One Kayaker Killed;
Another Saved in Capsizing Accident near Red Rock Dam
Names Released of Two
Individuals Involved in Kayak Incident at Red Rock
Posted: Sunday, January
6th, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Author: 92.1 KRLS News
The names of the
individuals involved in the kayak incident Saturday at the Red Rock Dam have
been released. Timothy Chicoine, age 61, from Des Moines was pronounced
deceased at the Pella Regional Health Center. Kevin Beatty, age 56, from Tracy
was treated and released from Pella Regional.
Des Moines Fisherman
Dustin Shepard was with Dan Dumerhoff and told KRLS News the pair of kayakers
got too close to the outflow area of the Des Moines River. “We saw the kayaks
were up by the danger sign, and one of them got sucked in and the other one followed
him in and got sucked in too,” he said.
One was brought ashore
by the fishermen; the other was pulled in by the Pella Fire Department and
other rescue personnel. The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m. Saturday
and several agencies responded for reports of two capsized kayaks.
Sheriff Jason Sandholdt
said, “If it wasn’t for the effort of multiple individuals and agencies both
individuals could have lost their lives this morning. Workers from Ames
Construction, area fisherman, firemen from Knoxville Rural and Knoxville City,
Pella Ambulance and Deputies threw rescue lines to the individual that was
still fighting to hold on to the capsized kayaks. They were able to get him
pulled out of the deadly current, where members of the Pella Fire Department
could get a hold of him and transport him to a waiting Pella Ambulance.”
“The Corp of Engineers
did a great job of closing the gates of the dam to reduce the outflow allowing
us to work. We are thankful we were able to get one of the individuals out of
the deadly situation, but nothing will ease the pain of losing the other
individual.”
Pella Rural Fire, Pella
Ambulance, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Knoxville